Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 22: Line 22:  
   
 
   
 
=== Baised to son ===
 
=== Baised to son ===
Out of his natural fatherly affection, Droṇa also wished to impart extra lessons to his own son, Asvatthama. He gave all the princes narrow-mouthed water pots and asked them to fill them at the river, but to his own son he gave a wide-mouthed pot so he could return first and receive extra teaching.
+
Out of his natural fatherly affection, Droṇa also wished to impart extra lessons to his own son, Asvatthama. He gave all the princes narrow-mouthed water pots and asked them to fill them at the river, but to his own son he gave a wide-mouthed pot so he could return first and receive extra teaching.
 
  −
=== Treatment with Eklavya ===
  −
A prince of the Nishada tribe of forest dwellers, Ekalavya, once approached and asked Droṇa to teach him. Droṇa replied that his school was only for kings and princes. Ekalavya went away dismayed. He practiced alone in the woods desiring greatness in martial sciences. He built an effigy of Droṇa and worshiping and praying to him for skills at weaponry. Gradually he became an expert archer.
  −
 
  −
As he was practicing, a dog began to bark loudly and disturb him. Immediately he released seven arrows, even without seeing the dog, and sealed the animal’s mouth. Arjuna and his brothers who were in the woods at the time witnessed this incredible feat of Ekalavya and reported to guru Droṇa.
  −
 
  −
Droṇa was surprised. He recalled the day the forest prince had come to him and been turned away. Droṇa was angered that he was now claiming to be his student. Generally the lower caste tribes people lacked the virtuous qualities of royalty, and they did not follow the Vedic religion. To give a low-class man great martial power could be dangerous. Droṇa had been especially concerned about Ekalavya, as the Nishadha tribe did not cooperate with the Kuru’s virtuous rule. Droṇa would not accept any princes into his school if they belonged to races antagonistic to the Kurus.
  −
 
  −
Droṇa thought his first assessment of Ekalavya had obviously been correct. The Nishadha had shown himself to be lacking in virtue by falsely posing as his disciple. Clearly he desired only to be great, known as a student of the famous teacher, but not to actually obey him.
  −
 
  −
Dronacharya said to him that the disciple should be prepared to give anything to his guru and asked his right thumb. Droṇa knew that this was asking a lot from Ekalavya. The loss of his thumb would impair his skill at bowmanship. But if he wanted to be known as Droṇa's disciple, he could not refuse. Droṇa also wanted to show that one cannot please his teacher and achieve perfection by dishonest means.
  −
  −
Although he had been unable to accept Droṇa's first order, the prince did not want to be considered at fault for failing to give dakshina to his guru. And he knew that all his knowledge and skills would be nullified if he refused Droṇa's request. Without the least hesitation, he cut off his thumb and handed it to Droṇa. With his firm action, Droṇa thus upheld religious principles.
 
88

edits

Navigation menu